At a meeting last week, an update was provided by Aggregate Industries’ Planning Manager in relation to the implementation of the company's permission to quarry Straitgate Farm.
Aggregate Industries is currently working on a number of schemes to satisfy pre-commencement planning conditions, including for HVO fuel use, dust, airport safeguarding, and water monitoring, together with a school travel plan, an archaeological scheme of investigation, a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan and a Construction Environmental Management Plan.
In relation to water monitoring, a new team of hydrogeologists is now on the case; such work was previously undertaken by Wood/AFW/AMEC. This week, data loggers have been installed in all the piezometers, to resume the measurement of groundwater levels after a two-year break. Monitoring of 21 private water supplies surrounding Straitgate has now also started, which will include analysing water samples on a monthly basis. Stream flow monitoring will begin at a number of locations around the site as well. Twelve months of baseline water monitoring is required by the permission. The surface water management scheme is awaiting onsite infiltration tests, which are expected to be performed in June.
Ecology surveys have also started.
Aggregate Industries hopes to submit, for approval by Devon County Council, all the schemes to discharge pre-commencement planning conditions by the end of this year. It hopes to start site entrance works by the summer of 2025. The company has until 5 January 2026 to implement the permission.
